Instrument for recording and reproducing sound-vibrations.



PATBNTUU JUNE 2, 190s'.

N UfJ. RUMANUN INSTRUMENT PoR REGORDIN G AND NRBPRUDUUING SOUND VIBRATIONS.

APPLIUATION FILED rm. 21, 19'01'.

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` PATBNTEO JUNE 2, 1903.

, N N N, E. ir. ROMANO. 9 lNsTRUMBNT -POR RBOORDINOAND `NBPNODUOINf-:f SOUND VIBNATIONS.

APPLIOATION FILED PEB.` 21, 1901.

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@miren @rares Patented Tune 2, 1903.

EUGENE JOSEPH ROMANO,

0F SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

INSTRUMNT FOR ARECORDINGAND REPRODUCING SOUND-VIBRATlONS;

SPECIFICATION forming part of`Letters Patent No. 729,798, dated; June 2, 1903'.

Application filed February 21, 1901. Serial No. 48,305. (No modelJ i To cold 'LU/tom t 7mm] concern,.-

MANO, a citizen of the United vStates of America, and a resident of Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Instruments for Recording and Reproducing Sound-Vibrations, of which the followingV is a specification. f

My invention relates to instruments for recording and reproducing sound-vibrations,`

and in the present embodiment `has special reference to devices of the nature above mentioned classified as multipletablet graphophones.

Among numerous desirable objects attained by my invention and readily comprehended from the accompanying drawingsand followl ing specification is a multiple-tablet carrier? of variable and comparatively unlimited capacity, simple and inexpensiveconstruction, 1 and positive and reliable action, simplified and eifective means for yoperating the tablet-4 carrier, like mechanism for controlling the coi-relative movements of the reproducer, and

preferred structural features incidental to the embodiment of the objects. i

With reference to the drawings heretofore mentioned and included as a part, of this` specification, Figure lis a vertical transverse section of the upper portion of a case ou lines p of Figs. 2 and 3, disclosing the mechanism of the instrument as preferably embodied and viewed as the arrows y. Fig. 2 isa similar .section on lines m11/ of Fig. 1 looking asthe arrows indicate. Fig. 3 is a plan view of Vthe mechanisms with the tablet-carrier and attendant parts removed. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section, on large scale, taken on` line k fn of Fig. 3, indicating portions of yt-he mechanism adapted to automatically control the reciprocative movements of the carriage.

. Fig. 5 is a side elevation ofthe tablet-carrier,

on reduced scale, indicated with avportion broken away. Fig. 6 is a similar view to Fig.

3., on large scale. Fig. 7 is a rear elevationI of the parts disclosed in same, on like scale.

Fig. 8 is an elevation of the right-hand end `of Fig. 7 with the case removed, and Fig. 9' is a sectional elevation on lines c of Figs. (i

Aand 7 viewed as the arrows indicate.

. Like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.A i

In the preferred embodiment of my invention the reference characterA indicates a reproducer of any suitable orordinary construction which is conveniently rendered operative for the inscription or transcription ot' a tablet brought to coperate therewith and is preferably supported from a reciprocatable carriage, as a, slidably mounted upon a way, as 2, fixed in a suitable frame B. Related to the reproducer is a movable tabletcarrier C, whose travel, as iirst considered, involves a movement' of the mounted tablets parallel a plane radial to their own axes and comprehends any form ofd a device rendered operative'to move the mounted tablets in a straight course duringdisplacement or replacement.

As now considered pliability` is incorpoto conveniently render it mountable in various Ways, and in the present instance the carrier comprises a belt. erably composed `of a series of interlocking units, as links 3wl1ich conveniently render the carrier eXtensible and contractible to vary the capacity thereof,and as such embraces any form 'of a carrier rendered adjustable for the exclusion or inclusioniof `tablets. Each of the units 34 is preferably adapted to carry a single tablet, as il, and isconveni'ently rendered detachable from theY series by means of removable pintles 5, which -arefincluded in suitable hinge-joints adapted. to `connect the units-in anyordinary orsuit'ablemanner. The carrier is thus rendered both separable and pliable and. made to include,` in addition to variabilit'yin capacity, divisional features comprehending the separation ofthe carrier into sections which shall-individually embrace any desired number oftablets for the inscription ortranscription of a prolonged series of sound-waves. i

in cooperative relation witha reproducer, as A, upon a rotatable wheel, as D, Fig. l,whicl1 also preferably embodies features for driving the carrier, and comprehends any suitable device adapted for the support of atabletcarrier, as stated, or to perform the functions of a-driver therefor when operated.

rated in the construction of the tablet-carrier This belt is pref- The tablet-carrier is convenientlymounted IOO As such, the mountl includes a pulley of the preferred form shown, having a polygonal rim conveniently composed of a series of planes, as d, individually conforming in length to a unit of the carrier, whose moveh ments are thus rendered positive.

As now considered the tablet-carrier em.- braces any plu raiity of units, including a minimum number equired to formacontinuous series or rim about the mount D, which in the present embodiment requires six. When the carrier is extended to accommodate a comparatively greater number of tablets, a suitable idler, as D', Fig. 5, of substantially like form to the mount D, is conveniently positioned in any desired manner (not shown) at a point more or less remote, in conformity to the carrier-s length, and serves to guide the same. Likewise other idlers can be placed at divergent points to guide the carrier in a sinuous course as permitted by itspliability and readily understood, and there by support it in any length and comparatively small space.

The wheel D is conveniently poised in relative position to the' reproducer A by fixing it upon a shaft 14, suitably journaled to a case, as E, and preferablyintermittently rotated by a suitable gravity-motor', as F. This motor comprises in the present instance a bell-crank 15, which isconveniently pivoted on said shaft, and a weighted cord 13, attached to an arm 12 of the crank, and the device is operatively engaged with said shaft for intermittent actuation thereof by a pawl-andratchet eontrivance, consisting of a ratchet, as 16, fixed on the shaft, and a pawl 17, pivoted to the bell-crank in operative relation to the ratchet, whereby a forced movement of the bell-crank againstgravity will ride the pawl over the ratchet,rand upon expulsion of said force the pawl will engage the ratchet to drive the shaft a predetermined part of a revolution, as promoted by the fall of a suitable weight 11, attached to the cord 13, and as determined by a suitable stop 20 in the path of the returning crank.

Suitable operative dogs, as 1S and 19, are pivoted to the case E to engage the ratchet 16 and conveniently hold the mount steady during the setting of the gravity device for movement of the carrier. As the device is set the dog 18 is conveniently disengaged by the bell-crank 15 contacting same and forcing it to swing free of the ratchet as the pawl 17 engages therewith. The pawl 19 will then be forced to ride, as the gravity device acts to impel the mount to travel a predetermined distance, relatively conforming to the spacing of the tablets and fixed by the stop 20.

If desired, the instrument can be conveniently rendered adjustable so as to automatically repeat the transcription of the same tablet by fixing the pawl 17 to its pivot and extending same through a suit-able slot 81 in the case, Fig. 2, and providing an arm 82 on the outer end of the pivot carrying an adoperation of the tablet-carrier by force auxiliary to that driving the instrument and conveniently applied either manually or auto matically to move the bell-crank 15 against gravity of the weight 11. The auxiliary force is conveniently applied in the former instance through the medium of a knob 58, attached to said crank and projecting from a suitable slot o f the case E, and in the latterinstanee through suitable clutch mechanism operated by a motor. This mechanism is brought into coperative relation to automatically set the gravity device by the action of movable mediums controlled by the driving mechanism impelling the tablets to rotation and the reproducer to productive travel, as will be understood from the following:

Inasmuch as the primary object of the tablet-carrier is to bring a tablet into coperative relation with the reproducer and to then displace it when it shall have been traversed, it is obvious that the tablet can be mounted in various ways; but in the present embodiment it is preferred that the carrier shall also be made to support the tablets, and in View of this tablets, as 4, are suitably positioned on rotatable mandrels, as 71., said mandrels having suitable axles 24, which are operatively mounted in tubular bearings 21, fixed transversely the units or links 3 by straps 22 or other suitable means and projected to one side of the units as desired to journal the maudrels.

The mandrels are each preferably composed of a drum, as 23, upon which a tablet is removably seated in any usual manner and has a single end, to which an axle 24 is fixed. This axle is of convenient length to pass entirely through any oneof the tubular bearings 21, so as to connect with suitable means for the rotation of the tablet, said means comprising in the present instance a spurgear, as 25, fastened to said axle, and a driver therefor, as 26, which gears are coperatively engaged when the respective tablet is brought into coperative relation with the reproducer.

The driver 26 is preferably mounted on a suitable pivot supported by a fixed arm, as G,

land is conveniently rendered continuously operative during productive travelof the reproducer, being in the present embodiment actuated by a train of gears g, individually pivoted to said arm and driven by any suitable common means, as a pulley and belt 2 7, which transmit power from a motor of any desirable class and are also conveniently used to drive the carriage of the reproducer, as set forth in the following:

The carriage ct may comprise any suitable or ordinary form, but preferably consists of curved side pieces, as 10, conveniently connected at the ends by ties, as 28 and 29, Whereby they are rigidly joined for the support of IIO the'reproduc'er, and instrumentalitiesfor effecting automatic reciprocative action of the carriage along the `way 2, which Wayis fixed to suitable end pieces h ofthe frame B, mount- -ed on a base h', supported by the case E.

30 indicates the ordinary drive-screw for imparting productive movements to the reproducer and which is journaled in the frame B and mounts a gear 31 exterior thereof. This gear meshes with a suitable train consisting of spurs 32, 34, and 35, which are pivoted to said frame and operatively coupled to the spindle of the driving-pulley' by a gear 33, fixed thereto in cooperative relation with the gear 35, whereby the screw 30 is actuated relatively to rotations im part-ed to a tablet by the gear-train g.

A part-nut, as 36, formed to lit the thread of the drive-screw 30, is conveniently mounted in the carriage a at the free end of a suitable arm supported by a pivot 37 and is applied to the screw by a suitable cam 3S, conveniently pivoted in the carriage and adapted to force the nut to engage with the screw to drive the carriage. Y

The cam 3S is operated by lateral move` ments of a bar, as 40, to which it is operatively connected by a st'em 39,and said bar is supported transversely the frame B at the free ends of suitable rock-arms, as r and r', which are for convenience pivoted to the extremities of the way 2 and when raised cause the bar to move the cam to apply the partnut and when lowered to operate the same and release the nut.

To insure disengagement of the part-nut as the bar 40 falls, a stem 43 is connected to the arm thereof and slidably engaged with said bar, so as to swing the nut free of the drivescrew as the cam is operated to release same.

The reproducer A is preferably supported at the free end of an arm, as 53, extending laterally from a rotatable hub 54, which is` suitably pivoted transversely the carriage a, so as to poise the reproducer over the tabletcarrier in cooperative relation with a tablet. Fixed to the hub 54 is a stem 55, which is extended to engage the'bar 40 for disengagement of the reproducer from the tablet as the bar falls andto permit it to return by gravity to engage the tablet as the bar is raised, and a screw, as 56, is adjustably engaged with the tie 2S of the carriage to support the arm 53 when lowered and is adapted to adjust the reproducer and secure Aproper coperative position thereof with relation to the tablet. As the carriage rests in initial position the bar 40 is automatically raised to advaucethe same by the movementof an angle-lever 47,

which is conveniently fulcru med on the carriage with one extremity slidably engaged with the bar by a suitable bifurcation and the other pendent in the path of a movement of a suitable stud 48. This stud is preferably mounted on a gear 49, which is pivoted` to the frame B and driven by a gear 50, fixed on the axle 5l, to which the gear 34 of the drivescrew train is-attached, and thereby brought to contact with the pendent arm of the angleleverto raise said bar as the drive-screw 30 is rotated, when a suitable catch, as 52,pref erably located at the opposite end of the frame, is conveniently forced byfa spring 7 8 to'engage the rock-arm fr and secure the bar in raised position with the part-nut engaging the drive-screw and the reproducer engaging the tablet.

The catch l52 is automatically tripped to disengage it from the rock-arm o' as the gravity device F is set, whereupon a spring, as 41, will then act to return the bar 40 to its lowered position, and thereby disengage the partnut 36 from the screw and raise the reproducer free of the tablet, when the carriage is free for retraction by any suitable means, as weighted cord 45, attached thereto and passed over a pulley46 and acting to return the carriage to initial position as the gravity device actuates the tablet carrier to replace the transcribed tablet.

The catch 52 is preferably tripped automatically by applying thereto the force employed to set the gravity device for actuating the carrier simultaneously with the expulsion of said force occurring at thetermination of the productive travel of the reproducer. This trip is convenienly accomplished ,when the device is set manually by rendering said catch operative by the bell-crank 15 as it reaches advanced position through the medium of an arm 75, extended to lie in the path of travel of said crank from a rotatable sleeve, as '76, which carries the catch and is preferably pivoted to the frame B in cooperative relation with the rockarm fr. Thereby the crank when advanced will strike the arm andY trip the catch for the fall of the bar 40, thus permitting productive travel of the reproducer to be terminated when desired by advancing the bell-crank.

The auxiliary force to automatically set the gravity device is appliedfrom a suitable motor through a pulley, as 64, which is conveniently made to intermittently actuate suitable means adapted to impel the bell-crank l5 to move against gravity of the weight ll, said actuations being suitably controlledby clutch mechanisms operated iby and during the travel of the carriage d.

Attached to the bell-crank is a tape, as G6, also attached to a reel 65, which is mounted in suitable bearings and rendered rotatably operative to wind the tape by means of clutch mechanism intermittently operated by the pulley 64 as determined by the advance of the carriage a. The pulley G4 is conveniently fixed to a sleeve 67 loosely mounted between fixed collars 69 on ashaftGS, which is mounted transversely the frame B4 and `is free `for reciprocative rectilinear `movements as promoted by the advance of the carriage a and retractive action of a spring, as '70, confined between a collar fixed to the shaft andone side piece of the frame B. Fixed to the sleeve IOO IIO

67 is a suitable clutch in the form of a crank y71, carryingan extended pin adapted to engage with an arm 73, iixed to the reel 65, so as to coperate with said pin when advanced by a longitudinal movement of the shaft 68. This shaft is conveniently moved by the carriage at a predetermined time by means of a lug, as '74, on the cross-tie 29 of the carriage and a collar, as 80, fixed to the shaft in the path of travel of the lug.

' Upon the tape 66 is adjustably tixed a button '79, which is adapted to automatically trip the catch 52, Fig. 4, after a predetermined portion of the tape has been taken up on the reel relative to the desired length of travel of the carriage ci. This is conveniently accomplished by passing the tape through a suitable slot in the arm 75, so that the button will come in contact therewith, and thereby eect automatic release of the carriage for retraction as the gravity device F is set and irrespective the contact of said arm and crank, when the spring will retract the shaft 68 and disconnect the clutch between the pulley 64 and the reel, permitting the gravity of the weight 1l to actuate the tabletcarrier during the return of the carriage to initial position.

. The character I refers to a suitable indicator by which the relative position to the reproducer of any oneI of a predetermined number of a tablet is disclosed. 'lhis indicator comprises a suitable rotatable dial e, preferably located exterior the case E and fixed to a suitable axle extending into the case and carrying a sprocket-wheel, as t, which is yoperatively involved with the movements of the tablet-carrier by means of a chain t and a suitable sprocket-pinion t2, fixed to the shaft14. Over the face of the dial is a cover le, having a suitable aperture to display characters placed on the face of the dial, each characterindicating an individual tabletand being placed relatively to the position of the tablet ony the'carrier to' indicate when displayed that the tablet designated is in coperative relation with the reproducer.

An operation of the instrument occurs substantially as follows: The desired number of tablets for inscription or transcription are rst selected and the carrier adjusted to include corresponding mandrels therefor, and then operatively engaged with the mount, which is then rotated to cause a selected tablet to liein cooperative relation with the reproducer and the gear of the respective tablet to engage with the driving mechanism. Granting initial position of the carriage a, power is applied to actuate the drivers 27 and pulley 64, whereupon the'selected tablet and the driver-screw 30 will be caused to simultaneously rotate and the crank 7l to revolve. The angle-lever 47 will be likewise actuated by the revolving stud 48, and thereby made to raise the bar 40, which in turn actuates the cam to force the part-nut to engage the drive-screw and likewise permit the reproducer to drop and engage with the rotating tablet, while the screw simultaneously drives the carriage to traverse the reproducer thereacross, as in any ordinary instrument of this class. As the reproducer approaches t-he termination of its productive travel the carriage shifts the shaft V68 to engage the clutch between the pulley 64 and the reel, which in turn winds the tape to set the gravity device until the button 79 trips the catch 52.- The bar 40 is then lowered, disengages the partnut from the screw, and also raises the reproducer, whereupon the weighted cord 45 retracts the carriage and the spring 70 acts to disengage the clutch on the wheel. After this the gravity device is free to act to replace the tablet, followed by a succeeding productive travel of the reproducer occurring as before.

From the above description it will be understood that the instrument operates automatically throughout and is continuously productive during application of driving power in accordance with the multiplicity of tablets involved with the carrier, which can be extended at will by introducing additional units. lThis carrier can also be divided into sections including a predetermined number of units, which sections are contained in the instrument either singly or collectively.

If desired, the instrument is rendered automatically operative for repeated transcription of the same tablet by shifting the weight 83 to hold the pawl 17 from the ratchetl, in which event the gravity device fails to act to impel the carrier upon the return of the carriage.

By the term reproducer, which I employ for brevity, I mean any device suitable for transmitting sound-waves to or from a tablet.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the tablet-carrier is conveniently im-v pelled by a motor acting independently of the mechanism for drivingthe reproducer and relative tablet and that said motor is set for action by a force applied auxiliary to the force impelling said driving mechanism, thereby insuring steadiness of movement in the productive travels of the said reproducer and tablet, and thus rendering the instrument more perfect in operation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A tablet-carrier for use in phonographs and the like, said carrier being composed of sections detachably connected, and means upon said sections for supporting said tablets.

2. A tablet-carrier for use in phonographs and the like, said carrier comprising a flexible belt composed of detachable sections, and means on said sections for carrying tablets.

3. In a carrier mechanism for use in phonographs and the like, a rotatable mount, 'an idler adjustably related thereto, an extensi- IOO IIO

the combination with a reproducer and driv`` ing mechanism; of a rotatable mount fixed in relation to said reproducer, an idler adj ustable With relation to the mount,and a belt composed of detachable units having means for carrying tablets fixed thereto.

5. The combination With a case and a multiple-tablet carrier; of a movable indicator mounted independently of the said carrier,`

and driving connection between said indicator and said carrier.

6. The combination with a case and a rotatable multiple-tablet carrier; ot' a rotatable dial, a cover thereover having an aperture to display one of a series of characters on the dial, a Wheel fixed to the axis of said dial, a second Wheel fixed to the axis of the carrier, and a belt.

7 In an instrument of the nature indicated; the combination with a reciprocatory reproducer-carriage, a rotary multiple-tablet carrier and driving mechanism; of a gravitymotor operatively connected to said carrier,

intermittently-operative clutch mechanism to set the motor and driven by a force auxiliary to the force impelling said driving mechanism, means operative by said carriage during productive travel to cooperatively connect said clutch mechanism, and means operative by said auxiliary lorce to release said carriage from the driving mechanism.

8. The combination with a movable tabletcarrier; of a ratchet operatively related thereto, a gravity bell-crank, a pawl pivoted to the crank to engage the ratchet as the crank opi erates in one direction, and means whereby said crank is impelled against gravity.

, 9. The combination with a movable tabletcarrier; of a ratchet operatively related thereto, a gravity bell-crank, a pavvl pivoted to the crank to engage the ratchet as gravity impels the crank,means by which said crank is advanced against gravity, and means to secure said carrier from movement during advancement of the pawl.

10. The combination with a rotatable mount; of a ratchet operatively related thereto, a gravity bell-crank, a pawl pivoted to the crank to engage the ratchet as gravity impels the crank, means by which said crank is advanced against gravity, a dog securing the ratchet from movement by said advance, a second dog likewise holding said ratchet from moving in the opposite direction and adapted to be tripped by said crank during advance.

11. The combination with a frame, a carriage and a drive-screw; of a reproducer pivoted to said carriage and having a stem, a laterally-reciprocative bar mounted on said frame in line with the travel of said carriage,

and engaging said stem, a part-nut pivoted Y to said carriage in coperative relation with said screw having a stem slidably engaging the bar, and a cam operatively related to the said nut and having a stem also engaged With said bar.

12. In an instrument of the nature indicated; the combination with a frame, a reciprocative carriage, a drive-screw, and a part-nut on the carriage to operatively engage With said screw; ofI an angle-lever pivoted on said carriage and operatively coupled to said screw-engaging means, and a rotatable wheel pivotedto the frame and carrying. a stud eccentrically to operate said lever.

13. In an instrument of the nature indicated; a movable tablet-carrier, a gravitymotor operatively connected thereto, a reel, a tape fixed to said reel and having connection with a member of said motor for moving said member to set said motor as said tape is Wound upon said reel, and means for Winding said reel.

14:. VIn an instrument of the nature indicated; a reciprocatory reproducer, a movable multiple-tablet carrier, mechanism to drive said reproducer and relative tablet, a gravity-motor operatively connectedl to the carrier, a reel, a tape fixed to a member of the motor for setting same and to the reel, and means operative by the tape as it is taken up on the reel to release the reproable multiple-tablet carrier, mechanism to drive said reproducer and relative tablet, a gravity-motor operatively connected to said carrier, a reel, clutch mechanism to operate said reel intermittently, a tape fixed to a member for setting said motor and to the reel, and means operative by said driving mechanism to throw in said clutch mechanism.

1G. In an instrument of the nature indicated; a reciprocatory reproducer, a movable multiple-tablet carrier, mechanism to drive said reproducer and relative tablet, a gravity-motor operatively connected to said carrier, a reel, clutch mechanism to operate said reel intermittentiy, a tape iixed to a member for setting saidr motor and to the reel, means operative by said driving mechanism to throw in said clutch mechanism, and mechanism operative by said tape as it is taken up on the reel to release the reproducer from said driving mechanism.

Signed by me at Seattle, Washington, this 29th day of January, 1901.

EUGENE JOSEPH ROMANO.

IIO 

